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General Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer credit at CalArts falls into three categories: Métier, Critical Studies, and general elective. The application of transfer credit to meet specific métier requirements is approved on a case-by-case basis by the School and Program in which a student is enrolled. All other transfer credit is evaluated by the Office of the Registrar, under guidance from the School of Critical Studies.

The BFA degree at CalArts requires 120 units overall, including 46 units of Critical Studies coursework, 38 of which may be completed through transfer credit. Any transfer credit not approved by the School for métier credit or not applied to meet Critical Studies requirements will be assessed as general elective credit and applied toward the overall unit requirement.

Transfer credit may be applied toward completion of the BFA degree only when those credits are completed at a regionally accredited post-secondary institution, or a foreign academic institution recognized by its government, and when a grade of A, B, C or Pass was received.

Students are not guaranteed advanced standing in year level or early graduation as a result of transfer credit. Year level placement is determined at the time of admission by a faculty committee from the student’s school, and is based on the portfolio or audition. It may not, however, exceed a level that can be substantiated by transfer credit (15 units of transferable credit is required per semester of advanced year level placement).

How to Request Approval of Transfer Courses

Applicants must submit official transcripts of all previous college level work as part of the application process. Transfer credit will be considered toward a CalArts degree only if earned at a regionally accredited postsecondary institution (or at a foreign academic institution recognized by its government) and a grade of A, B, C, or Pass was received. In addition to an official transcript, any transfer credits from accredited institutions outside of the United States must be accompanied by an official course-by-course evaluation by World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or International Education Evaluators (IEE). Please visit https://www.wes.org/credential-evaluations, https://www.ece.org, or https://www.myiee.org for more information on ordering and submitting WES official transcript evaluations. 

Credit by Exam: For International Baccalaureate credit, students must request an official transcript from the IBO to be sent directly to the CalArts Office of the Registrar. Please visit the IBO website for more information.  For A Levels credit, students must request official exam results from either the UK Examining Boards or the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).

Exam results must be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar in order to be considered official documents. These transcripts will be evaluated by the Office of the Registrar and all applicable transfer credit will be awarded upon acceptance to CalArts.

Transcripts for any transfer work completed after the initial admission evaluation should be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar. Students are encouraged to request approval of transfer courses prior to registering at the transfer institution to confirm that the courses will transfer to meet the intended requirements.

Contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@calarts.edu for guidance on how courses will transfer.

Transferable Credit – College Level Coursework

CalArts awards transfer toward the BFA degree for baccalaureate level coursework completed at regionally accredited colleges or universities, or at foreign institutions authorized by the government to award baccalaureate degrees. Only coursework completed with a Pass grade or a letter grade of C or higher will be considered for credit.

Critical Studies transfer coursework will be assigned credit toward degree requirements in accordance with the chart below. All other coursework will be assessed on a course by course basis or designated elective credit, unless the School has approved the course to meet specific métier requirements.

Critical Studies Breadth Area	Transfer Course Subject Area
Humanities Required CS Breadth Area	Critical Thinking English Literature Ethics General Humanities Philosophy
Social Science Required CS Breadth Area	Anthropology Archeology Geography History Political Science Psychology Sociology
Science and Math Required CS Breadth Area	Analytic Geometry Astronomy Biology Calculus Chemistry College Algebra Environmental Science Geology Physical Science Physics Statistics
Cultural Studies Required CS Breadth Area	Cultural Anthropology Gender Studies Intercultural Communications Ethnic Studies
Arts in Context Optional CS Breadth Area	History, Survey, Introduction, or Appreciation courses in any visual or performing art
Computing & Research Optional CS Breadth Area	Computer Programming Computer Science
Creative Writing Optional CS Breadth Area	English Composition Creative Writing Critical Analysis & Composition Journalism Screenwriting
Economics CS Elective Credit	Macroeconomics Microeconomics
Foreign Language CS Elective Credit	Any college level Foreign Language class Sign Language
Speech/Communication CS Elective Credit	Interpersonal Communication Family/Group Communication Public Speaking

Transferable Credit – College Level Examinations

CalArts awards credit toward the BFA degree for successful completion of Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations, for examinations for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, and for A Level examinations. The articulation of these exams is assessed in accordance with the charts below. Other college level examinations will be considered on case by case basis.

Advanced Placement

Students who have earned a score of 3 or better on AP exams will be granted 4 semester hours of credit for each exam. In cases where an exam is completed multiple times, students will be awarded credit only once.

In order to be awarded credit, students must request official paper score reports to be sent directly to the CalArts Office of the Registrar. Any score reports not received directly from the College Board are considered unofficial and will not be used to award credit. Score reports may be ordered online through the College Board website.

Equivalent CalArts Area	AP Exam
Humanities Required CS Breadth Area	AP English Literature and Composition AP Language and Culture AP Latin
Social Science Required CS Breadth Area	AP European History AP Comparative Gvt Politics AP Human Geography AP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics AP Psychology AP United States History AP US Government & Politics AP World History
Science and Math Required CS Breadth Area	AP Biology AP Precalculus AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Calculus AB Subscore AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Physics 1 AP Physics 2 AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism AP Physics C: Mechanics AP Statistics
Cultural Studies Required CS Breadth Area	AP African American Studies
Arts in Context Optional CS Breadth Area	AP Art History
Computing & Research Optional CS Breadth Area	AP Computer Science A AP Computer Science Principles
Creative Writing Optional CS Breadth Area	AP English Language & Comp
General Elective Credit	AP Music Theory AP Music Theory: Aural Subscore AP Music Theory: Nonaural Subscore AP Capstone Research AP Capstone Seminar AP Research AP Seminar AP Studio Art: 2-D Design AP Studio Art: 3-D Design AP Studio Art: Drawing

International Baccalaureate

CalArts awards credit for IB courses with Higher-Level examination results of 5 or higher. Standard-Level results are not considered for credit.

In order to be awarded credit, students must request an official transcript from the IBO to be sent directly to the CalArts Office of the Registrar. Any score reports not received directly from the College Board are considered unofficial and will not be used to award credit. Transcripts must be requested in mail from the IBO with a paper transcript request form. Please visit the IBO website for more information.

Equivalent CalArts Area	IB Exam
Humanities Required CS Breadth Area	IB Language A: Literature IB Language A Language and Literature IB Philosophy
Social Science Required CS Breadth Area	IB Economics IB Global Politics IB History IB Psychology
Science and Math Required CS Breadth Area	IB Biology IB Chemistry IB Environmental Systems and Societies IB Geography IB Mathematics (2020 and before) IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (2021 and later) IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretation (2021 and later) IB Physics
Cultural Studies Required CS Breadth Area	IB Social and Cultural Anthropology
Computing and Research Optional CS Breadth Area	IB Computer Science
Critical Studies Elective Credit Optional CS Breadth Area	IB Language B (all languages except English)
General Elective Credit Non-Critical Studies	IB Business and Management IB Dance IB Design Technology IB Extended Essay Visual Arts IB Film IB Music IB Theatre IB Theory Knowledge IB Visual Arts

A Levels

CalArts awards credit for Advanced Level Examinations (“A Levels”) completed with a grade of E or higher. Ordinary Level Examinations (“O Levels”) are not considered for credit.

In order to be awarded credit, students must request official exam results from either the UK Examining Boards or the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Exam results must be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar in order to be considered official documents.

Equivalent CalArts Area	A Level Exam
Humanities Required CS Breadth Area	AL English Literature AL Philosophy and Theory
Social Science Required CS Breadth Area	AL Economics AL Geography AL Government and Politics AL History  AL Psychology AL Sociology
Science and Math Required CS Breadth Area	AL Biology AL Chemistry AL Mathematics AL Physics
Arts in Context Optional CS Breadth Area	AL Art History AL Film Studies AL Media Studies
Computing & Research Optional CS Breadth Area	AL Computer Science
Creative Writing Optional CS Breadth Area	AL English Language
Critical Studies Elective Credit Optional CS Breadth Area	ALLanguage (except English) AL Economics
General Elective Credit Non-Critical Studies	AL Art & Design: Fine Art AL Art and Design (Photo) AL Design & Technology AL Media Studies AL Music Design AL Music Technology AL Product Design 3-D Design AL Project Work